Guide to Curbside Recycling in Cuyahoga County

Community Recycling Key

The following describes some of the general "do's and don'ts " of preparing your household recyclables for collection. Since each community has different recycling guidelines, you should contact your community directly if you have additional questions about collection schedules and procedures.

Cartons (aseptic/gable top)

Refers to a type of packaging for food and beverage products that are either shelf-stable or refrigerated. Shelf-stable cartons include juice, milk, soup/broth, wine products that you would find on the shelves in the grocery store. Refrigerated cartons include milk, juice, cream, egg substitute products that you would find in the chilled sections of the grocery store.

Cartons are mainly made from paper in the form of paperboard, as well as thin layers of plastic and/or aluminum. To recycle cartons, rinse cartons and place them in the same recycling container with cans, glass and plastic. For more information, visit the Carton Council website at www.recyclecartons.com.

Cans

Refers to all metal food and beverage cans including aluminum, steel, and bi-metal cans. Cans should be rinsed before recycling, but there is no need to scrub out the can completely. Labels do not need to be removed. They are burned off when the go into a furnace as part of the recycling process.

Glass

Refers to glass bottles and jars in brown, clear, and green colors. To recycle glass containers, rinse well and remove lids, caps, and rings. Other types of glass such as drinking glasses, window panes, mirrors, and light bulbs cannot be recycled due to the physical properties of the product.

Plastics

#1 and #2 plastics refer to plastic bottles, jugs and food containers that have the numbers 1 and 2 inside a recycling symbol on the bottom of the container.

#1 - #7 plastics refer to plastic bottle, jugs and food containers that have the numbers 1,2,3,4,5,6,or 7 inside a recycling symbol on the bottom of the container.

Caps should either be left on the bottles or thrown in the trash. Loose caps in the recycling stream are too small to make it through the processing systems at the MRF and end up contaminating the glass.

Newspaper

Clean, dry newspaper (inserts included) should be stacked in paper bags or bundled with string.

Mixed Paper

Mixed paper is the combination of newspaper, magazines, cardboard, junk mail, box board, office paper, and phone books. If your community accepts mixed paper, these types of paper can be combined together in one recycling bag or container.

Cardboard

Refers to corrugated cardboard only. Boxes should be flattened. Wax-coated boxes intended for refrigerator and freezer storage such as frozen food containers and milk cartons cannot be recycled.

Special Waste

To help residents dispose of oil-based paint, pesticides, automotive fluids, and other hazardous products found in the home, the Solid Waste District has a Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Program. Hazardous materials from households can be turned in for free; latex paint is not accepted. Computer recycling events are also offered. Collections are held at your city service department.

Yard Waste

The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District's Guide to Curbside Recycling provides general information about community-sponsored recycling programs in Cuyahoga County. It includes listings for all 59 communities in the county. For more detailed information about your community's recycling program, please contact your city service department. Please note that the recycling services provided by each community are for residents only.

For additional recycling information, please contact the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District at (216) 443-3749.

* Who = Who collects your recyclables (map pdf)
* What = Recyclables collected in your community
* When = Frequency of recycling collection
* How = How to set out your recyclables for collection
* Where = Where your recyclables go after they are collected (map pdf)